Is the fish on your plate what you think it is? Food is an extremely important part of our lives. People are concerned about the rising cost of food and where their food comes from. Consumers want to know if they are getting what they pay for. This fall, senior biology and science students across Canada will be able to use free DNA barcoding kits to find out!

Participants in the Fish Market Survey Action Project will collect samples of fish from local grocery stores and markets using DNA sample collection kits and then will use DNA barcodes of the fish identified by the Centre for Biodiversity Genomics at the University of Guelph to find out if the fish is correctly labelled. To see what students found out this past spring, visit the Fish Market Survey Results – Spring 2017.

Participating educators will receive one LifeScanner kit (a value of $40) which comes with 4 specimen vials (each containing a DNA preservation fluid for animal tissues), a pair of tweezers, instructions, return shipment bag and a postage-paid mailing envelope for the return of the vials for analysis. There are 150 kits available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Samples must be returned by NOVEMBER 10, 2017 so that the results of the DNA analysis can be provided to participating classes in December.

Free curriculum-aligned educator resources are also provided. These resources support student understanding of scientific processes in the field of genetics, including DNA extraction, Sanger Sequencing and DNA barcoding. Students will also learn about the issue of food fraud and the seafood supply chain.